Two outdoor graduation ceremonies in Paterson, New Jersey, held during a dangerous heat wave ended with more than 100 people who received treatment and some were taken to the hospital, authorities said.
The Paterson Fire Division said it treated about 50 people on Monday at the Fuechliffe Stadium during the first graduation ceremony of the high school. Nine people were transported to the hospital, the Fire Department said in a statement.
During a second ceremony later, about 100 people ended up needing treatment and seven were transported to the hospital, according to the Fire Department.
Temperatures rose to the upper 90 on Monday, and the heat index reached 107 degrees, according to the weather channel.
The graduates of several secondary schools were scheduled to walk the stage in the ceremonies held in the stadium. According to News 12 New Jersey, only Eastside High School students heard their names called after the other ceremonies were canceled.
Paterson’s public schools did not immediately respond to a comment request on Tuesday.
A student from the Fine and Performance School of Rosa L. Parks told News 12 New Jersey that the administrators gave water to the students, “but it was not enough.”
“He was exhausting. He couldn’t breathe,” said Ciarra Bailey.
On Monday night, Mayor André Sayegh declared an emergency state due to high heat and canceled all recreational activities. Public libraries opened as cooling centers.
Abrasing temperatures are affecting much of the eastern half of the United States, with almost 150 million people under heat alerts from Maine to eastern Texas.
